Aunties rock!

Aunty opportunities are definitely a winning feature of this trip - could bbecause I am the winning Aunty. Tonight was Aunty night at rugby practice - it seemed other aunties had missed out on their notifications. Great photo op, if only my frozen finger could push the button! So..I am now the proud (and warm!) owner of the club scarf and beanie, plus Resident expert on the club (hot) chips an kiwi hot dogs - on a stick of course. I can also still put a fairly decent boot behind a rugby ball!

Perth - Kids, cars and kangeroos

Walking through the tree tops in Kings Park

Arrived in Perth on Sunday afternoon and have been flat out since - sightseeing, eating (!), repo-ing cars, sightseeing, aunty-ing, sister-ing and having fun with 6 cute puppies who are only a few weeks old.  Wonderful weather is still with me - not bad for winter.  Enjoy the catch-up pics!

Nephew (Jake) and niece (Kiri) overlooking Perth)

Look, I'm the amazing Spiderman!

Bro broke out the Roller to take us shopping - Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous!

Stylin'

The classic tourist shot - kangeroos and a tourist.

Don't pay your car payment?  Look out for this bad boy!

Perth city

Melbourne, Australia

Finally, I qualified for a padded room...

...prison so doesn't suit me...

...so...Judge Judy beware!!



Really???  This is IT???

The view across the peninsular - gorgeous!

Happy 50th birthday to my dear friend, Raymond - same age as Tom Cruise and a whole lot less drama!

EARTHQUAKE!!

Nothing says 'home' like a good old earthquake!  So, last night at around 10:30, the earth literally moved (!) as we had a Force 7 earthquake.  Since I am back staying in the 3rd floor apartment I am sure our experience was somewhat amplified...fun, fun, fun!  So, for the uninitiated, the procedure goes something like this:

1. Ask the obvious ("Umm, is that an earthquake?")
2. Leap out of bed and lunge for the doorway - in a manner terrifying to small children.
3. Stand in said doorway/doorframe and debate evacuating or not (all three of us being in our pj's should be taken into consideration when making this decision)
4. Open door for the lovely, but terrified, neighbour from South Africa who is not really very earthquake experienced.  We didn't really have a doorframe to share with her but she was grateful for the company - and obviously willing to risk her life for same.
5. Breathe a sigh of relief as the rocking and rolling earth appears to have stopped.
6. Grab for Ipad/Laptop/other electronic devices to make contact with the outside world to make sure they are still there!

The quake lasted for 15 loooong seconds and I am happy to not have that particular home experience again!